Christ the Cornerstone
Become like little children, embrace your guardian angel
(En Espanol)
See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father. (Mt 18:10)
The publication date for this column is Friday, October 2, the Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels. The Church teaches that every one of us has been given a guardian angel to protect, guide and intercede for us on our life’s journey to heaven. Guardian angels are instruments of grace whose purpose is to help each of us respond freely to the love and mercy of God.
In the Gospel reading for today’s Memorial (Mt 18:1-5, 10), Jesus tells his disciples that the greatest in the kingdom of heaven is as humble and innocent as a little child. The Lord also says that those who become like little children enjoy the special favor—and protection—of God’s holy angels.
What are angels? The Church teaches that angels are spiritual beings created by God to participate in his divine life. Unlike human beings, who have bodies as well as souls, angels are non-bodily spiritual creatures who are finite and entirely dependent on God.
Angels are personal beings, not merely impersonal forces or poetic symbols. They possess intelligence and freedom. Some angels freely accepted God’s will and became holy; others rejected God and became fallen angels, commonly called demons. These are malevolent spiritual beings who seek to tempt, deceive, discourage and draw human beings away from God. Jesus’ teaching identifies “the devil and his angels” as destined for judgment, while affirming that Christ has definitively defeated them.
The word angel means “messenger.” It describes their mission: angels serve our triune God and participate in God’s work of creation, redemption and sanctification. God does not need any help, but he chooses to share his work with intelligent creatures—both angelic and human. Angels’ roles can include prayer, guidance, protection, inspiration and, when God wills, extraordinary intervention consistent with his providence. This was the case when the Archangel Gabriel appeared to Mary to announce her role in salvation history (cf. Luke 1:26-38), and the times when an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream to reassure him about Mary’s fidelity to him and to warn him about Herod’s evil intentions.
Catholic teaching understands all God’s creatures (human beings here on Earth, angels, and all the saints in heaven) as united in God’s saving plan. Scripture describes the prayers of the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the saints as being joined with the ministry of angels before the throne of God. This is why we may ask the angels—especially our guardian angel—to pray for and protect us. Such devotion does not replace worship of God. Worship belongs to God alone; saints and angels are honored as God’s servants and friends.
The assistance we receive from our guardian angels should be understood within the framework of God’s larger plan for allowing all his creatures to participate in appropriate ways in the work of salvation.
The Church teaches that the prayers and actions of heavenly beings can aid those of us on Earth, and Sacred Scripture portrays the holy angels as accompanying the prayers of all the saints in heaven. God remains the central source of all grace and the author of our salvation, but we are assisted by the angels and saints in heaven to accept God’s love and goodness.
Guardian angels are instruments of divine providence. The Holy Spirit is the principal source of sanctifying grace, while angels serve God by assisting us in responding freely to God’s love. God always respects our freedom: angels and saints may influence or assist us, but they cannot compel us to choose good or evil.
This means that a guardian angel’s protection does not guarantee that we will never sin, become ill, make mistakes or die. We remain free to choose between God’s will and our own.
Angels may protect, warn, strengthen or guide us, but they do not take the place of our human freedom. This in itself is a great gift from God. We are not puppets controlled by others, but free women and men who are invited to discern God’s will for us and to freely choose what is good.
Tomorrow’s Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels should be an occasion for gratitude and rejoicing. God gives us every assistance—including the angels who protect, guide and inspire us—to freely choose to accept his love and forgiveness. Let us thank God for our guardian angels who “always look upon the face of my heavenly Father” (Mt 18:10) and let’s welcome their companionship on our journey to our heavenly home. †